So this was pretty good but it always seems like the authors who write books about growing up gamers feel like it's a bad thing that they probably shoSo this was pretty good but it always seems like the authors who write books about growing up gamers feel like it's a bad thing that they probably should hide or not be proud of. It's like the "normal" people finally got to them (or maybe they always felt embarrassed) and they feel like they have a disease. It always feels apologetic and self denigrating like, "I used to play with toys, what a loser I was, now I'm an author."

Mr. Gilsdorf, in this book seems to fluctuate between saying, "Okay I give up I'm a geek." and "I refuse to let myself enjoy my childhood pastimes because I'm an adult now and people might think it's weird."

On the other hand, I've been a geek all my life and I never knew there were Harry Potter tribute bands. I also didn't know about a couple other things he covers in the book. So thanks for that EG.

Just one more note. The first chapter or two of this book deal with the author's mother and her health problems. It seemed a strange way to start the book, it was very dark and sad but it becomes more obvious later why it was included. So don't get scared off by that. The rest is a quest around the world examining everything geek (though it's more focused on fantasy than sci-fi)....more

I'm a little late reading this. It was published in 2004 so now it's more like 38 years of adventure.

This was cool if a little confusing. I always thoI'm a little late reading this. It was published in 2004 so now it's more like 38 years of adventure.

This was cool if a little confusing. I always thought that Richard Garfield owned Wizards since he was the creator of MTG. But obviously I was wrong since he was only mentioned once in the entire book. It was interesting to hear about the lawsuits that prevented Gygax from working on D&D stuff and that meant the company had to call things "Advanced" D&D or else they had to pay Arneson.

I didn't like how they had 2 different stories going across multiple pages. It was cool to kind of get to know some of the personalities who's names I've been seeing on products since I was a kid.

I really think it needed a "conclusion" type entry. The ending just kinda dropped off....more

Reading this with my 13-year-old. We've read 3 nights so far and we're only on page 10. He started summer camp and so he's totally exhausted by the tiReading this with my 13-year-old. We've read 3 nights so far and we're only on page 10. He started summer camp and so he's totally exhausted by the time we start reading.

So far this book seems really clunky. I remember enjoying a couple of Salvatore's other FR books and this is supposed to be a classic so I hope it gets better.

Final Verdict:

I'm not impressed. This just wasn't that much fun. I have enjoyed some of Salvatore's other books so I'm wondering if they get better once Drizzt leaves Menzobarranzan? It wasn't terrible I just expected more because of the hype. My son wants to read the next book but I may let him read it on his own so we can read something else together. ...more

I discovered this book by accident on ebay while looking at other rpg stuff. It sounded really cool and I was super excited to read it. UnfortunatelyI discovered this book by accident on ebay while looking at other rpg stuff. It sounded really cool and I was super excited to read it. Unfortunately after reading it for a while I started calling it -The Book of UNUSABLE Treasures- as many of the entries just didn't seem to make sense or were repetitious in design or were useless or overpowered.

There were spell books that included every wizard spell from the PHB for levels 1-6. There were spellbooks that were named (as if to have a theme) but then it seemed like the spells contained in them had no relation to each other. There's even a 24,000 gp spell book that turns into a regular shield (which a wizard/sorcerer would not be proficient with).

There are spell components that last only an hour or two after harvested from a rare monster which really makes them pretty useless unless you are going to use them in the next room in the dungeon. There are spell components that cast spells unrelated to the spells your casting with them. (these seem more like magic items to me). Like a "piece of a fallen star" that casts Meteor swarm at 20th level if you cast any other spell that does damage. Way over-powered if you ask me.

The real strength of the book seemed to be the new spells in the back. These spells were included in the spellbooks and many of them were really cool. I especially liked the "Chatterbox" spell that sets off a kind of magic mouth that distracts spell casters and causes others to stop and listen.

More pictures would have been great, as in, "You find a sword that looks like this..." but I realize art can get expensive and take up space. There are a TON of entries in this book and some are very cool. Just rather disappointed that I found many of them unusable....more

This was awesome, but I knew it would be. There are plenty of extras too, like mini-cartoons that they used as headers for fax sheets etc... This realThis was awesome, but I knew it would be. There are plenty of extras too, like mini-cartoons that they used as headers for fax sheets etc... This really has me jonesing to play some D&D....more

This is really an amazing game system. Although I've just read most of the rules and not actually played it - I'm really looking forward to trying itThis is really an amazing game system. Although I've just read most of the rules and not actually played it - I'm really looking forward to trying it out....more

OH MY GOD THIS IS AWESOME. I can't wait to play in this world. Just started reading yesterday but this is incredible stuff. Now all I have to do is geOH MY GOD THIS IS AWESOME. I can't wait to play in this world. Just started reading yesterday but this is incredible stuff. Now all I have to do is get the Savage World book.

So when I first started role-playing I tried to get my parents involved. I told my mother (just like my first DM told me) you can be anything you want to be. She said she wanted to be a donut (because she loves donuts). That pretty much ended things - that is until now.

I feel pretty comfortable making the statement that Low Life is the first and only campaign setting that actually has detailed rules for playing a sentient pastry.

I love this. It requires a great deal of imagination but it is definitely the coolest role-playing supplement I've read since Privateer Press' Monsternomicon. Master (yes not mister but master) Hopp puts together quite a package here. He does everything writes, illustrates, layout, and the website. He is now my diety of choice....more

I found this book to be very interesting and more than a couple times laugh out loudThis was suggested by my favorite aunt Suzze - it looks hilarious.

I found this book to be very interesting and more than a couple times laugh out loud funny. At first I was really curious about the difference between the "beginnings of gaming" in another country but then I found that the whole thing was a completely different experience for Mr. Barrowcliffe.

You'll have to forgive me but reading this book has really made me want to write about my experiences.

It was really strange all the talk of arguing and killing each other's characters, vindicitive DM's that would kill your character if you made them mad outside the game. Those were all alien concepts to me. I started when I was 8 with a dm that was 16. By the time I was 10 I was DM'ing my first game with my parents as players (they died at the entrance of the dungeon because I forgot to have them buy weapons - they never played again). When I moved to the new neighborhood at age 11 I got in a group right away and made tons of friends. I mostly ran the games and I almost never killed anyone off.

I was a little put off by the attitude that gamers would be better off if they would just grow up and be normal. Then toward the end it seemed to come around a little bit to more of a "it gave me direction and kept me busy" kind of thing.

I was into heavy metal (and in bands), I dressed crazy but not medieval, I only wore my cloak at fantasy conventions (which were totally absent from this book) and I never larped. It always just seemed really cheesy to me (sorry larpers). I was completely obsessed and did play all the time.

I'm 40 now and working on an rpg book for self publication. I play every couple weeks. I can't imagine ever giving up gaming for good. My 11 year old and I just started "B3 - Palace of the Silver Princess" last weekend and I can't wait until my 4-year is old enough to play....more

Since True20 started with Blue Rose and Blue Rose had a "companion" book that added a lot to the arcane spell system I guess it makes sense that the TSince True20 started with Blue Rose and Blue Rose had a "companion" book that added a lot to the arcane spell system I guess it makes sense that the True20 magic companion (this book) would cannibalize much of the Blue Rose Companion. But that doesn't mean I'm really all that happy about reading the same stuff.

Maybe I'm a stickler but I found some of the wording inconsistent in this book and since I'm using parts of it in a book I'm writing it was glaringly obvious. I think some of the powers are way over powered, others so specific that they are really only usable for narrator characters because many players would never choose to give up one of their slots for them.

But I got a bunch of cool ideas and it had many powers and feats that I didn't have to create. Loved the philosophies of magic and the more detailed description of supernatural item creation. So definitely worth it, especially if you have never seen the Blue Rose Companion.

Read this earlier this year but forgot to post it. I was impressed with the simple elegance of the organization creation system. I was kind of overwheRead this earlier this year but forgot to post it. I was impressed with the simple elegance of the organization creation system. I was kind of overwhelmed by the many feats that seemed to do the same thing. Some kind of chart is needed to organize them into comprehensible groups. I kept reading saying, "Wait isn't that what the other feat does?". Overall though I liked a lot and I'm looking forward to the Adept's Handbook next....more

I started with Blue Rose and have finally moved on to True 20 just in time for the revised edition to come out. This edition combines the initial bookI started with Blue Rose and have finally moved on to True 20 just in time for the revised edition to come out. This edition combines the initial book and the Companion but drops out the example settings that were originally included in the Companion.

True 20 rocks! It's so much simpler than 3.x d20 but it keeps many of the concepts so people familiar with 3.x can jump in fairly quickly. I don't really like the wealth setting for a fantasy setting (and that's usually what I play) and I also keep using experience points but other than that it's exactly what I'm looking for in a rpg.

I haven't tried 4th edition D&D yet but it sounds like Mr. Kenson was way ahead of the game and that they have taken many of his ideas for the newest version of "the world's most popular role playing game".

Forgot to mention the reason that it got 4 instead of 5 stars is I think they should have spent some time and combined things like Powers and Feats into a single section instead of having them spread out throughout the book. Also some of the concepts seem to contradict each other a bit and maybe reuse wording for two different concepts....more

It says I've read this before but I don't remember and it's still pretty dang funny so i'm reading it now.

Yep total hilariousness. I love the goths thIt says I've read this before but I don't remember and it's still pretty dang funny so i'm reading it now.

Yep total hilariousness. I love the goths they are great. This really helped me get through my gaming withdrawals. I haven't role-played in about a year except for at the last game-day event I went to about 4 months ago. I really need to geek out....more